Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with being fast...if you’re a hare.

But the world is full of more than hares . . .

Unfortunately, this fact hasn’t stopped the hares from telling all the other animals that “Fast is best.” Nor has it stopped the other animals from believing this lie, including the lie that racing is required.

I used to subscribe to a lot of blogs and podcasts that talk about writing, side hustles, and creative pursuits. Almost every single one shares a tip (or an advertisement for a product) that will make me create faster and earn money faster. Because faster is better, right? In fact, “fast” appears to be king of the independent publishing world. Many indie gurus who are making money (or who claim to be) do so by creating quickly or by teaching others how to do so.

Success for the rest of us is right around the corner, the story goes. We just have to speed things up to get there.

I bought into this for a while . . . until life got in the way. Obstacles like unemployment, empty-nest syndrome, a new and stressful job, financial issues, and personal issues completely derailed my planned sequel to my last published book, Portals and Poison.

As I was battling through my drama, I realized much of my writer’s block was caused by my listening to everyone else’s voice except my own.

That’s when I took action. I . . .

unsubscribed to 95% of the email lists, podcasts, and programs I had signed up for.

stopped blogging (although I’d never been that faithful to begin with).

slept a lot.

gave myself permission to stop reading, watching, or listening to anything I wasn’t enjoying.

Eventually, I could hear my own voice again. I accepted the fact that life circumstances would not allow me to do anything creative quickly. I embraced my “tortoise” life, including the reality that I probably won’t produce as much or make as much money as the “hares.” I stopped thinking of life as a race (although I'll admit, I'm still working on that last one).

My writer’s block eventually lifted. My slow, steady, and quiet pace (outside of my job, anyway) eventually allowed me to finish another book,Inkwells and Jail Cells.I had to slow down to write to write this book. Storylines and characters that are now central to the plot developed only when I devoted time to their development. I had to embrace who I was--in this case, a tortoise--in order to realize my creative vision.

If you’re a hare, good for you! I’m not going to bother racing you because I know you’ll win.

But if you’re a tortoise like me--or maybe a butterfly or a whale or a dragon--and you have a creative project in the works, I hope you’ll ignore whatever the hares in your life are saying and instead do the work your own way and in your own time.​

Since the lights were up, we retrieved our smartphones, looked up Diego Luna, and scrolled through his movie credits. He had starred in Open Range, one of our favorite Westerns. Mystery solved, thanks to the Internet.

I’m old enough to remember life before the Internet. In those days, finding answers to trivial or even important questions took a lot longer and was occasionally impossible without the help of a skilled reference librarian.

But the world has changed. When used correctly, the Internet provides the average, economically-challenged writer access to information that previously would have required a trip to an out-of-town or even out-of-country library.

Case in point: I’m currently writing book 4 of my Time-Traveling Twins series. The book is set in Massachusetts in 1777 and involves a murder. While plotting the story, I recognized I knew nothing about colonial law, especially criminal law involving suspicious death. Tempted as I was to assume eighteenth-century-American legal proceedings would resemble an episode of Law and Order, I resisted.

Time to research. I checked out several books from the library, asked a few lawyer friends for help, and looked for the perfect legal reference book to answer all my questions. None gave me the information I needed. Unfortunately, my schedule and finances do not allow me the time off to visit law libraries in Boston or the money to pay an expert for his or her time.

But then the Internet provided the answers I needed. I found a site with detailed information about eighteenth-century New England coroner’s inquests, suspicious death investigations, early American law enforcement, and murder trial legal proceedings.

In another plot point, I needed the sleuth of my series to write notes while sitting on the steps of a building. Since balancing an open bottle of ink, a quill, and paper in her lap seemed messy, I wondered if she could use a pencil. But did pencils exist in 1777?

A quick Internet search revealed that pencils were popular in Colonial America, but the war with England cut off pencil supplies from Europe, which meant my sleuth would have had trouble finding one. It was a good thing I looked pencils up, or I could have alienated many readers.

Part of my day job involves editing and fact-checking stories and articles written by others. What follows is a hypothetical example of what I encounter daily.

A writer sent me a story about a father and son discussing the meaning of life while they changed the oil of the family car. I have never changed a car’s oil, but something about the process seemed wrong.

In less than ten seconds, typing “how to change oil in a car” in my Internet browser yielded over 14 million results. I only needed to skim one article to know the writer knew less about oil changes than I did. Fact check fail.

Every day I encounter paid writers who brazenly claim “Spanish is the official language of Brazil” or “the Hawaiian Islands are in the Atlantic Ocean.” I’m not sure what hurts more: writers’ laziness, their arrogance in believing they don’t need to research facts, or their assumption that the reader will blindly accept any fallacy as truth.

Recently, I was watching a late-night talk show when one of the guests commented flippantly, “What would Jesus do?” He and the audience laughed at this joke. After all, there was no way to answer this question.

Or was there?

The show’s host, a professed Christian, blinked and after a brief pause replied, “I don’t know, but I’ll ask Him.”

We don’t have to be ignorant about who Jesus is or what He would do. The Bible makes clear that we can ask Jesus for the information we need. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NKJV)

The Bible also makes clear that God intended the Bible to answer our questions and address our concerns. Paul, in 1 Timothy 3:16 and 17, says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NKJV)

If I want to know what Jesus would do in any given situation, all I have to do is ask and read my Bible--either the app on my phone or the leather-bound Bible on my desk. I recognize this is a simplistic response because God’s answers to life’s hard questions aren’t always easy to find or understand. But too often, we don’t even bother to look for those answers. Like the writers at my day job, we get lazy, we become arrogant in our own wisdom, or we think the truth doesn’t really matter anyway.

There’s no excuse for writers who say Mars is the closest planet to the sun (it’s Mercury, in case you were wondering). There’s also no excuse for Christians who say God has NOT given us clear instructions or messages that apply to our daily lives. He has. He gave us an entire book of answers.

A search for “free Bible” in my Internet browser yielded over 18 million results. It makes me wonder if Jesus knew I might be searching for Him there.

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)

I enjoy winter, but not for the conventional reasons. I don’t ski, ice fish, snowshoe, or own a snowmobile. In fact, I don’t even like snow.

I enjoy winter because it’s when I get things done. With my favorite outdoor recreations curtailed, I focus on creative pursuits--usually, my next novel. This has become such a habit that every year I plan for winter’s flurry of creative activity as the boost I need to meet my yearly publishing goals. In the plant world, I’d be a fir tree, continually green in the depths of winter, a spot of color amid the monochromatic snow.

So it’s no surprise my expectations for winter 2017 were high, especially as I have two Works in Progress (WIP) that have been begging for attention since July. In early November I began fantasizing about everything I could accomplish on my WIPs, the daily word counts I would meet, the nights I would spend in frenzied inspiration, and the candlelit evenings I would enjoy while curled up on the couch with the laptop, a blanket, and the cat.

I even labeled a page in my journal, “Using Winter to Your Advantage,” planning to jot down my creative successes during the winter months so I could write one of those viral posts that camouflage bragging about success using the pretenses of giving advice about how to achieve the same. (Oh, the hubris!)

Yesterday, as I leafed through my journal, I discovered that very page--blank, except for the title. I hadn’t made any notes because there was nothing to brag about.

You see, this has not been a creatively productive winter. In the plant world, I’d be the shriveled pile of sticks that used to be shrub.To be fair, there are good reasons. While I’m fine, my family is fine, and I’m more blessed than many, I’ve had a lot going on. As a result, my fantasies of creative escape have faded into the realities of falling asleep from exhaustion with the laptop (and cat) on my lap, crying over story lines that were supposed to be funny, and discovering my novel-writing self is in deep hibernation with no indications of waking soon.

But during this long and uncharacteristic winter nap, I’ve enjoyed other blessings:

Time for prayer and reflection.

Quality time with family and friends.

Re-evaluation of my goals and priorities.

The opportunity to organize and scrapbook twenty years’ worth of family memories. (Four down, sixteen to go…)

Sleep . . . because sometimes sleep really is better than writing.

This hasn’t been the winter I expected, but it hasn’t been awful or a waste. It’s just been . . . different.

Maybe that’s part of the plan. Solomon might have been feeling the same way when he penned these words: “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9, ESV

I wanted to be an evergreen, but I’m not. I'm a dried, brown bulb buried under a thick blanket of snow at the moment.​ But hopefully come spring, the winter months of creative generation will help me become a field of colorful tulips.

A December tradition of mine is to read Willa Cather’s Shadows on the Rock. The novel, set in 1687 in the frontier town of Quebec, Canada, follows the life of an apothecary named Euclide Auclair and his twelve-year-old daughter Cecile.

In my favorite passage, Cecile and her father invite their neighbors the Pommiers and Pigeons over for Christmas Eve. Also invited is six-year-old Jacques Gaux, a poor, neglected boy the Auclairs look after as they can, who watched Cecile set up the family's new nativity set earlier that afternoon.

...Jacques Gaux came hurrying in through the shop, looking determined and excited. He forgot to speak to the visitors and went straight to Cecile, holding out something wrapped in a twist of paper, such as the merchants used for small purchases.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said. “It is for the creche, for the little Jesus.”

When she took off the paper, she held in her hand Jacques’s well-known beaver.

“Oh, Jacques, how nice of you! I don’t believe there was ever a beaver in a creche before.” She was a little perplexed; the animal was so untraditional—what was she to do with him?

“He isn’t new,” Jacques went on anxiously. “He’s just my little old beaver the sailor made me, but he could keep the baby warm. I take him to bed with me when I’m cold sometimes, and he keeps me warm.”

Madame Pommier’s sharp ears had overheard this conversation, and she touched Cecile with the end of her crutch. “Certainly, my dear, put it there with the lambs, before the manger. Our Lord died for Canada as well as for the world over there, and the beaver is our very special animal.”

Immediately Madame Pigeon and her six children arrived. Auclair brought out his best liqueurs, and the Pommiers and Pigions, being from the same parish in Rouen, began recalling old friends at home. Cecile was kept busy filling little glasses, but she noticed that Jacques was content, standing beside the creche like a sentinel, paying no heed to the Pigeon children or anyone else, quite lost in the satisfaction of seeing his beaver placed in a scene so radiant. Before the evening was half over, he started up suddenly and began looking for his coat and cap. Cecile followed him into the shop.

“Don’t you want your beaver, Jacques? Or will you leave him until Epiphany?”

He looked up at her, astonished, a little hurt, and quickly thrust his hands behind him. “Non, c’est pour toujours [No, it’s forever],” he said decisively, and went out of the door.

“See, madame,” Madame Pommier was whispering to Madame Pigeon, “we have a bad woman amongst us, and one of her clients makes a toy for her son, and he gives it to the Holy Child for a birthday present. That is very nice.”​--From Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather, Book 2 Cecile and Jacques, chapter IX

Last week while eating lunch with a colleague, we discovered that a bag of potato chips had been stolen from her takeout bag stored in the lunchroom refrigerator. The theft caused understandable consternation that over the course of lunch cooled to irritation. We discussed putting a note on the refrigerator door to let the unknown thief know that although his or her identify was a mystery, the crime had not gone unnoticed. My colleague wrote a draft of the note but then asked me to rewrite it so it would be funny instead of angry.

What follows is my rewrite (with the exception of the first line that was written by my colleague). Since a series of circumstances made it imprudent for my colleague to post the note for general office consumption, I share it here in the hopes it gives you a few laughs. (Princess Bride fans: Can you spot my shout-out to the film?)

To the sticky-fingered chip monger who dug into my Jimmy Johns’ bag and absconded with my unopened bag of potato chips:

How did they taste? I imagined their salty crispness all morning. I looked forward to crunching down the entire serving. I craved them. But imagine my intense disappointment when I opened my bag at lunch time and my chips were gone.

I’m curious…

Are you an equal-opportunity thief?

Do you steal food from all the lunch bags and boxes in the fridge, or do you limit yourself only to take-out bags from certain restaurants? If I had brought a bag of Panera food, for example, would I have been safe?

I notice you left my half-eaten sandwiched untouched. That’s probably because you’re worried about germs. Perhaps you only pilfer sealed food because it’s the more sanitary way to steal. I’m glad you’re concerned about your health because if you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.

Maybe that’s why you stole the chips—you wanted to spare me the unhealthy calories and imbibe them yourself. Very selfless of you…

I’ve learned a valuable lesson in all this. Someone in this building—whoever you are--is too cheap to buy your own chips. Instead, you spend your days grazing on other people’s fare.

As a public service to us all, I’d love to know what your food-theft preferences are. That way the rest of us in the building can avoid stocking the fridge with your favorite goodies and you might be forced to steal from the vending machine or even (gasp!) pay for your own food.

As nice as it is to fantasize about having unlimited resources at our disposal, in real life most of us don’t. We all have constraints that could--if we allow them--prevent us from achieving our creative dreams.

I’ve met far too many people who say things like, “If only I had x, then I could do y.” The idea is that pursuing a creative dream is contingent on having exactly the right resources in place. But if that’s the case, then few of us would ever create.

FinancesI’ve never had an incredible amount of money, but that has forced me to be creative with what I do have. One of the reasons I research any creative project before I begin is because I need to be fiscally responsible.

For one of my works in progress (WIP), I needed an illustrator to create an image for almost every page. However, I could not afford to pay for all those original illustrations. Instead, I found a fantastic and affordable cartoonist on Fiverr.com who created a series of individual figures according to my specifications. I learned Photoshop and figured out how to combine the figures into an infinite number of illustrations—all within my budget. This increased flexibility and allowed me to create additional characters and cartoons I hadn’t anticipated.

My budget for the cover of my novella The Carpenter & the Queen was $50. I found a less-expensive-but-still-good designer on Fiverr.com. To save money, I was forced to research covers and pictures I liked in order to achieve the desired result. That experience taught me a lot about how to communicate with cover designers in the future and still resulted in a cover I love.

My financial constraints have also taught me to take advantage of the free resources available to me. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars in research by borrowing books instead of buying them. I’ve also learned an incredible amount about writing and self-publishing on the Internet by researching the big names in the field and following their blogs and watching their free webinars. Remember, I love to research, so having an infinite number of free resources has provided me with hours of enjoyment.

If you have financial limitations, what can you do with the resources you have? What inexpensive resources are available to you? How can your lack of money combine with your creative process to make you even more creative?

TimeWhile I’m more likely to have an excess of time than I am of money, time is still precious. Since I work full time, I’m unable to spend more than one or two hours each day writing. Some days, ten to fifteen minutes of writing is as good as it gets. But I wrote the first draft of Quivers and Quills by working only fifteen minutes a day. Sure, it took a while, but it still got done. Actually, working slowly enhanced my process because I need time to think and plan in between writing sessions.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, a person can have too much time on his or her hands to the point of depression. If this is an obstacle you’re facing, use it to your advantage. While out of work for six months, I needed a meaningful way to fill my days. I decided to use that time to my advantage by writing six to eight hours a day. That’s how Portals and Poison came to be. I met a lot of other unemployed people—several of whom expressed interest in more creative pursuits—who instead spent their time feeling down or giving in to their fears.

If you find yourself with an excessive amount of time because of another limitation in your life, is there a way you can embrace the time and put your creative process to work?

If you have time limitations, can you find at least ten minutes each day to do pursue your creative dream?

ChildrenBeing the parent of small children is tough. I’ve heard stories of parents who wrote books while rocking babies, but I couldn’t do that. When my son was under the age of two, I was lucky to have time to go to the bathroom, and even then I couldn’t do that alone.

But a friend gave me a surprising gift that kept my creative process at work—magnetic poetry. I set up the word tiles on my refrigerator, well out of my son’s reach. I could find a few minutes throughout the day to play with the magnets, and some of what I created was good enough that I wrote it down.

I was a single mom for over 14 years. Even as my son got older, writing alone was impossible. So I included him. When he was younger, I wrote stories for him and about him. I also took advantage of every moment I had alone. I remember one instance when we were driving somewhere and he fell asleep in the car. I pulled into a parking lot and wrote in my notebook for twenty minutes before he woke up.

As he got older, I asked for his advice on stories I was working on. I even asked him to make me accountable to write every day. Since I nagged him about his homework, he delighted in nagging me about writing. One of the most powerful motivators I experienced was having my ten year old say, “Mom, why are you watching television when you should be writing your book?” I still keep my son in the loop of all my writing endeavors, and I value his advice. He has made a major plot contribution to all my novels so far.

If you have kids, are there ways you can incorporate them into your creative endeavors? Are there new creative projects you can take up that are easier to complete with little ones around? Can your children provide creative inspiration that you can use in your process?

LocationVirginia Woolf famously said, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” I don’t disagree, but let’s be realistic: Many of us don’t have a room where we can enjoy any privacy to create. Because of the size of our homes, the amount of time we spend commuting, or the needs of our family, most of us aren’t lucky enough to close the door to a private room and say, “Don’t bother me for the next six hours.”

That’s why we have to embrace our locations. Countless stories have been told of people writing novels while on public transport. You don’t even need a laptop for this. If you do a web search for “How to write a book on your smartphone,” you’ll find pages of resources to help you do just that. Other creative people enjoy a little privacy at a coffee shop for the price of a beverage and a set of headphones.

For years I’ve carted spiral notebooks around with me so I can jot down ideas as they come. I love to write in cursive but I often don’t draft in cursive because it takes longer than typing. (I type fast.) When I don’t have access to a computer, I embrace my handwriting with an added benefit. My handwritten outlines are better thought out than my typed ones. Embracing my limitation actually benefits my creative work.

Up until a few months ago, I did not have a room in my home where I could close the door and write, so I wrote wherever I could—in bed, at the dining room table, on the couch, on the deck (in good weather), or in the car as I mentioned earlier. The benefit of this is that I’ve trained myself to write under many conditions, which allows me to be productive in a wide range of environments.

You may not have the perfect craft room, writing office, art studio, or music conservatory. But what do you have? How can you use your location limitations to help your creative process?

Life CyclesI know popular advice says you should write (or draw, paint, sing, or practice) every day. I agree this is optimal, but for many of us, it’s not realistic. Embracing your limitations may mean recognizing that you engage in different creative behaviors at different times of the day, week, or even year.

When I taught high school, I enjoyed two months off work each summer. Although I had little time for crafts during the school year, I would scrapbook for hours at a time during June and July. When August rolled around, I put away the scrapbook supplies and didn’t bring them out again until the next summer. The benefit, though, was that my scarce ability to scrapbook increased my anticipation, enjoyment, and productivity when I was able to do it.

Even now when I work year round, I have found some creative activities work better for me at different times of the year. My most productive writing and craft time is winter. Summer is when I read the most fiction. I especially enjoy cooking in the fall and spring. The good news is that each season brings something I enjoy and can get excited about, which makes creating easier.

Working within the limitations of these seasonal cycles had the benefit of causing me to finish most projects. I’m more likely to finish a painting project when I know I’ll put the paints away for several months. I’m more likely to finish writing a rough draft when I know my summer schedule will keep me from the computer for weeks at a time. The limitations create deadlines that give my creative process a sense of urgency.

What creative activity would best match where you are right now? Are there projects you can work on that fit in with your lifestyle at this moment? Are there other projects you can let go of, knowing you’ll pick them up later? How can the season or life cycle you’re currently in benefit your creative process?

Physicality

We all have physical challenges that prevent us from creating. One of my physical limitations is lack of sleep. However, my fatigue can sometimes help me turn on my creative brain. When I take a short nap after I get home from work, my brain is better able to make the switch from spreadsheets to storytelling. I’ve also had quite a few nights when I had trouble sleeping. I’ve used those sleepless nights to write thousands of words over the years. I’ll probably never get enough sleep, but I can use sleep or sleeplessness strategically to stimulate my creative process.

Some physical limitations are much more serious than a lack of sleep, but they don’t have to stifle creativity. I have taught many students who were unable to type for a variety of reasons. Thankfully, a wealth of dictation software exists. There’s even a movement among many authors who have no trouble typing to dictate their books using Dragon or similar programs.

Recently I watched the TED talk by artist Phil Hansen in which he discusses how he used a tremor in his hands to create amazing art. (You can listen to his TED talk here.) A simple web search revealed many artists who paint with their mouths or feet because of physical challenges. (See an example here.) A number of talented musicians have also overcome physical limitations to accomplish amazing creative feats (You can read about a few here.)

We don’t get to choose our physical limitations, but we can choose to be creative and look for ways to use our limitations to our advantage.

Your LimitationsI’ve only mentioned a few possible barriers to creative success. Take a moment to think about your own limitations:

What limitations are keeping you from creating?

What unique perspective can you gain from them?

How do those limitations impact your creative process?

How can you use your limitations to your creative advantage?

There are answers to these questions if you trust yourself enough to find them. But if you don’t trust yourself, trust the God who created you to show you the way. If you believe God parted the Red Sea, then believe He can help you through whatever limitations you’re facing right now.

“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26, KJV

There is no other human being on the planet like you. You were created to make a unique contribution to the world—a contribution no one else can make. Yes, the road to creation is hard. We doubt ourselves and our ability to create. We sometimes dislike the projects we must complete. We struggle to manage our emotions. We fight with our inner critic who tells us we’re not good enough. We focus on our limitations instead of using them to our advantage.

But life doesn’t have to be that way. Believe in yourself. Believe you have a process.

Not long ago, I sat in a painting class with nine other women I knew fairly well. Each of these women is beautiful, talented, accomplished, and fun to be with. Each is creative and has a proven track record of producing beautiful things.

But you wouldn't know it to listen to them.

During most of the two-hour class, the conversation in the room revolved around how much every woman hated her painting and how her canvas wasn't as good as everyone else's. Complaints ranged from a perceived inability to hold the brush correctly to lines that weren't straight, leaves that weren't the right color green, or tree branches that didn't have enough twigs.

I had a good time, but I was saddened by how critical the women were of their efforts, how difficult it was for them to have fun, and how little faith they had in their creative visions. Even though every single painting turned out beautifully, most of the women expressed this thought: "The rest of you did a good job, but I did not. I have no talent."

I suspect each woman was saying aloud what an insidious little voice whispered in her ear. I call that insidious voice the inner critic. If we let it, that voice can prevent us from starting--much less finishing--any creative dream.

Many negative emotions or experiences only grow stronger when we ignore them; therefore, the first step to befriending your inner critic is to acknowledge that this voice inside your head affects your ability to create.

Now that I've published several books, I have many people tell me, "I'd like to write a book."

"You should!" I say. "You can do it!"

"No, I can't," is the common reply. "I'm no good at writing."

That's the inner critic talking, folks. If you've ever said you can't do something because of x (x = ridiculous, invalid reason), you have an inner critic, and it's not going away. You might as well make friends with it and harness its power to your benefit.

2) Visualize what your inner critic looks like.

Silly as it may seem, befriending your inner critic is easier if you think of it as a person. For example, my inner critic looks and sounds like a male teacher I had who was consistently critical of me. When I'm dealing with the statements My Inner Critic makes, visualizing him helps me put the comments in perspective. Visualizing also helps me remember that my teacher didn't criticize me because he thought I was worthless. He saw my potential and wanted to help me improve--even if his comments weren't always helpful. He had my best interest at heart even if his execution was at times flawed.

Your inner critic may resemble anyone or anything you choose. There are no rules--even if your inner critic tells you there must be. But putting a human face on your inner critic can help you remember that the critic doesn't hate you--it just wants you to improve. That's power you can use to do just that.

3) Recognize your inner critic doesn't always tell the truth.

When you create something, what does your inner critic say? Listen closely because not everything your inner critic says is true.

Sure, sometimes it's right. As I've been editing this blog series, My Inner Critic has said things like, "Can't you come up with a more specific word?" or "I don't think that sentence is communicating what you want it to." In those cases, he was correct. I did need a more specific word and the sentence did need to be reworked.

However, after a conversation I had with a friend recently, My Inner Critic said, "That was a dumb thing to say, but it's typical for you since you're stupid." In this case, My Inner Critic was wrong and needed to be ignored. Sure, sometimes I feel stupid, but I'm not stupid.

What about you? Are there statements your inner critic is making that are completely untrue? If so, what are they? What truth can you use to combat the lies your inner critic tells you?

4) Identify when your inner critic is helpful.

Any time your inner critic stops you from creating or makes you feel badly about yourself, it isn't being helpful. Your inner critic is often harder on you than any real person could ever be. What does that tell you?

But your inner critic doesn't want you to feel awful (regardless of what he or she may say), just as my teacher didn't want to completely destroy me every time he criticized my efforts. The purpose of the criticism is to improve. I absolutely did grow and improve as a result of my teacher's critiques. In the same way, I can grow and improve from My Inner Critic's remarks as well, as long as I only pay attention to the beneficial remarks.

Here's an example of how I allow My Inner Critic to be helpful. I've already confessed how difficult writing a first draft is for me. The last thing I need while slogging through that awful process is My Inner Critic saying, "This is terrible. To think you call yourself a writer!" When I listen to those statements, I can't write a single word. What My Inner Critic says at this stage of my creative process is not helpful at all.

However, My Inner Critic is very helpful when I'm revising my writing. He's also good at reminding me to proofread carefully (sadly, I don't always listen) or to rewrite an email so my message comes across in a kinder way. I credit My Inner Critic for helping me turn poorly written rough drafts into a final pieces I'm proud of.

As you consider your creative process, when would it would be helpful to have your inner critic around? What types of advice does it give that help you improve?

5) Control when your inner critic can speak.

Just because your inner critic makes a statement doesn't mean you have to listen to it. Most of us are pretty good at ignoring other people occasionally--even people we care about. Why not add your inner critic to the list of voices you ignore on occasion?

I have a friend who has an action figure that represents her inner critic. When she doesn't want him to speak, she moves the action figure to another room. My approach is a little different. I keep a sticky note near my computer which reads, "Michelle, you have my permission to write an awful book that everyone will hate." When My Inner Critic leans over my shoulder and says, "This rough draft is terrible," I read that note aloud and ignore him. (Some days this is easier than others.)

What actions can you take to ignore your inner critic so you can create in peace?

6) Invite your inner critic to be part of your creative process.

You can't keep your inner critic silent forever, nor should you. Under the right circumstances, it can prevent you from showing your slip to the world, so to speak.

I can't tell you how many times My Inner Critic has saved me from sending an embarrassing text message or career-or-relationship-endangering email. He's also pointed out some problems with my creative work that, when addressed, proved crucial to the work's later success. Some of my favorite characters and plot points were born when My Inner Critic pointed to a place in my draft and said, "Michelle, you've got to improve this section somehow. It's not working."

I find it easier to ignore my inner critic during first drafts because I know he'll have a chance to say everything he needs say when I'm revising. Because I've planned to work with him during revision, I can keep him away from drafting--guilt-free.

Remember, you're the boss. You have the ability to tell your inner critic when to "show up to work" and when to "stay home" and away from you. Consider how you can incorporate your inner critic into your creative process in a way that is helpful and results in a product you're proud of.

Remember the ladies in my painting class? Many of them would have had a lot more fun if they had accepted that nothing they do will ever be perfect. Instead, we must embrace our imperfections and learn from them. Perfectionism is an unreasonable standard that cannot be reached.

Remember, your inner critic has the ability to help you create beautiful things, but only if you are able to make it a friend who works for you, not against you.

Emotions are not logical things. No matter how often you tell yourself you should feel a certain way, you can't force a feeling to be something it's not. That's why after you understand your creative process and know how to put it to work, you need to consider how your emotions affect your ability to create.

Years ago, while working at a job I didn't enjoy, I received praise from my superiors for a project. "You should feel good about all the nice things they said about you," a friend counseled me. "But I don't feel good," I protested. "Affirmation doesn't change how miserable I am doing this job."

In 2008, I picked up my master's thesis (what eventually became The Carpenter & the Queen) from the university printer so I could deliver it to my adviser. "You should feel proud," the printer told me. "You've just completed your degree." But I didn't feel proud. I felt angry, sad, and resentful. I wrote the thesis during an incredibly difficult time in my life, and it was one of many things that caused me stress, tears and sleepless nights. I wanted to throw it out the window in retaliation.

In 2015, I published Quivers and Quills. I had worked on that novel for twelve years. It was only a few years younger than my son. I thought about my characters so often that I dreamed about them like they were real people. "You've just published your book. You should feel so proud and excited," my friends said. But I didn't feel that way at all. I felt like someone I loved had died, and I don't make that comparison lightly. (My father had died eight months before, so I knew what grief felt like.) Releasing that book to the world meant saying goodbye to an entire way of thinking and creating that had encompassed over a decade of my life. I cried every day for a week after its release.

As these anecdotes illustrate, my feelings at the end of a project don't always make sense. In fact, my feelings in the middle of a project rarely make sense either. After all, writers are supposed to enjoy writing, aren't they?

But I don't. I enjoy planning. I love revising. But I hate writing first drafts. The only part of writing that makes me more miserable than writing a first draft is finishing a novel entirely. Pulling that first draft out of my brain feels like a dentist is pulling out my teeth without Novocaine.

Side note:

I recently posted this on Facebook: When I have trouble writing, I say, "I feel like I'm pulling teeth." I wonder, when my dentist has trouble pulling teeth, does he say, "I feel like I'm writing"?

My favorite comment came from a former student of mine who is now a dentist: Haha. Actually, yeah.

Back to the emotional roller coaster:

Many creative people forget that even when we're pursuing our passions, our emotions don't always line up with our actions or make sense.

The other day I was telling my sister about my current work in progress (WIP), complaining, "It's terrible--probably the worst thing I've ever written. I should throw it out and forget about it."

To my surprise, she laughed. "Sounds like you're right on schedule," she said. "You always hate a project right before you start loving it and having fun."

My family is obviously wiser to my creative emotional roller coaster than I am. Given this blind spot in my self-awareness, I decided to examine the highs and lows I experienced while working on my most recently published novel, Portals and Poison. This drawing was the result.

I share my craziness not to prove to you how unstable I am but to highlight how each of us experiences emotional peaks and and valleys while working through a creative project, especially one that takes more than a day to complete.

This is important because understanding how your emotions correspond with your creative process can help you ride out the difficult moments. For example, I realized something important after creating my silly graphic: All my WIPs were in the drafting stage--the stage I hate the most. No wonder I was feeling discouraged! I needed at least one creative project in my life that would encourage more positive emotions.

That's how this blog series came to fruition. I knew I could draft, revise, edit, and publish it within a week. In fact, one of the reasons I enjoy blogging occasionally is that I think of it as instant gratification. While publishing a blog post isn't as satisfying as finishing a novel, it still feels good and can provide a fast and refreshing creative boost when I need it.

In addition to other writing-related pursuits, I picked up some easy craft projects over the last week that are fun, easy, and require little thought. I can complete them while watching television, use a part of my brain unrelated to language, and enjoy the elation of a finished product without the emotional extremes that go with novel writing.

I've taught, worked with, and befriended enough creative people to know I'm not the only person whose emotions can either impede or improve my creative process. While each emotional journey is unique and we all experience unexpected events that can throw us into a tailspin, there is a benefit to understanding how our emotions are related to our creative processes: If you know a sudden drop is coming, you can strap on your seat belt, hang on tight, and remember that what goes down must come up again.

If you'd like to examine how your emotions affect your ability to create, you can start the process by following these tips.

1) Think about a creative project you have completed.​A recent project is better, obviously, because the experience will be easier to remember. Just as many mothers forget how uncomfortable childbirth is as the child grows up, many creative people forget the emotional low points once their projects are complete. Remembering how you felt is also easier if you can associate it with specific tasks or instances.

2) Chart your emotions in a way that makes sense to you.

If you like my roller coaster analogy, you're welcome to use it, but let your creativity be your guide in this instance. Maybe you associate emotions with colors, pieces of music, pictures, favorite objects, rooms of your house, the weather, or road signs. Whatever you choose, make sure it feels right for you.

I know a creative person who daily tracks her feelings about her project and what stage she is at on a spreadsheet. Since I hate spreadsheets, using this method would ensure every emotion I recorded was negative, but it works for her. Remember, we're all different.

3) How do your emotions correspond to your creative process?

Your emotions may line up perfectly with your creative process, but it's also possible the similarities are cloudier or more complicated. For example, even though I hate drafting, I experience a wide range of emotions during the three to five months it takes me to write the first draft of a novel. I'm often excited when I begin, frustrated and occasionally despondent while I'm in the middle, and elated when I finish. All those feelings are true even though overall, I dislike the process.

Similarly, I love revising as a whole, but I still experience a wide range of emotions during the three-to-six months I spend in this stage. When I begin, I despair at all the work that must be done. But once I'm a few chapters in, I begin to enjoy myself and can't wait to sit at the computer each day to revise more pages.

Give yourself the freedom to have a wide range of feelings about creating that may or may not directly correspond to your creative process. Disparities between the two might provide you with valuable information.

4) Consider what actions you can take to feel better the next time you reach a creative low point.

Obviously this will be different for everyone, but I'll share a few techniques I've already tried that have worked well for me.

I can't write the first draft of two big projects at the same time. It's just too depressing. Instead, while writing one rough draft, I may research or plan another book since those activities are fun and make me feel good.

I've also found it helpful to balance my creative work between different types of projects. For example, if I'm drafting a novel, I'll balance it with blog posts or short stories. I also enjoy balancing writing work with non-verbal creative endeavors such as crafts, painting, music, and videos. Physical exercise or meeting up with a friend are also morale boosters that help me get through my creative lows.

What sort of activities make you feel good? Can you pair them with the parts of the creative process you don't enjoy?

5) Are you taking proper care of yourself?

When I'm on a creative high, the temptation always exists to skip meals, sleep, time with friends, or thinking time in order to maximize my productivity. But this, as well as setting my expectations too high, can quickly lead to burnout.

Are you an evil taskmaster, always cracking the whip? Do you allow yourself breaks? Do you punish yourself if you don't reach your goals? If so, this may increase the negative emotions you experience while creating.

I have a tendency to push myself too hard and set my expectations too high. That's why I've been trying to take better care of myself, set more realistic goals, eat healthfully, exercise, and get enough sleep at night. If that means I don't create as much each day, then so be it. I'd rather be healthy, happy, and live a long time. (Those writers who died young, bitter, and penniless may seem romantic, but I don't want their lifestyle.)

I also recommend giving yourself at least one creative day off a week. I take Saturdays off from writing. I know popular advice says I should write every day, but I disagree. Taking one day off a week makes me more productive the other six days. Remember, as important as your creative work is, you're a human being first. It's almost impossible to do your best work if you're neglecting your emotional well being, health, and personal relationships.

Because you're a human being, you're going to experience emotions. Like it or not, those emotions will affect your creative process. But if you're aware of those emotions and take good care of yourself, you can ride out the low points with the confidence that the next good feeling is on its way.

In my last post, I talked about how to discover your creative process. Once you've done that, it's important to put your process to work. This is easy to do on a project you're in charge of, but challenging when you're not the one calling the shots.

Not long ago, a colleague dropped a project on my desk. An article by a contractor needed to be rewritten quickly.

"You're creative and a writer," my colleague said. "Can you change the focus, take out the bad parts, add some new paragraphs, and make it 'good' by yesterday?"

I wanted to say: "Shall I pull out my magic wand, wave it over the computer screen, and magically produce a brand-new article?"

Over ten years ago, I was chaperoning a group of eleventh graders on a field trip. During the long drive, the students sitting near me turned to me and said, "We're bored. Tell us a story."

I wanted to say: "Do you think I keep entertaining stories in my back pocket to satisfy your every whim?"

I didn't actually say any of those responses that crossed my mind, but admitting I thought them highlights how frustrated I can feel when someone expects me to create at a second's notice without respecting the steps I need to take to produce a quality article, story, speech, meal, or whatever.

Every creative project I've ever completed is the result of at least a few minutes of thinking, researching, planning, and organizing before I begin to create. These steps are so essential to my process that I shut down creatively if not allowed to use them. In both the situations I described, I was being asked to create without being allowed (I believed) to use these steps.

Perhaps you've been in situations similar to mine where you feel like you're being forced away from your creative process. If that's the case, what follows are a few tips to help you effectively use your creative process to get the job done.

1. Expect and allow other people to have different creative processes than you do.

When I taught high school English, I learned quickly that every student approached the writing process differently. While I must write thousands of words and multiple drafts to get a quality five-hundred-word essay, a few of my students could write A papers in a single draft. While I must write speeches word-for-word and practice them in front of a mirror, some of my students scored much better on extemporaneous speeches than on ones I forced them to practice.

My colleagues have different creative processes as well. While I hate spreadsheets, a colleague cannot create an end product without the use of multiple spreadsheets. While I love planning, organizing, and outlining at the beginning of a project, another colleague creates best in what I consider chaos.

If I want others to respect and honor my creative process, then I must respect and honor theirs first--no matter how different they may be from my own.

2. Believe in your process, even when it's different or criticized.

If you're prone to playing the comparison game, it can be easy to doubt your creative process when you see others working differently.

Several years ago, I was feeling discouraged about a project. A colleague didn't appear to be having the same problems I was. When I asked him how he achieved success, he replied, "I just sit down and do it."

There has not been a single time in my life when I was able to complete a creative task simply by sitting down and doing it. My colleague meant well and was trying to encourage me. My mistake was that I compared myself to him instead of recognizing my unique approach.

Trusting your creative process means believing in the steps you need to take to complete the project, even when your steps are different from those around you.

3. Ask for what you need in order to follow your creative process.

Mind reading only happens in fiction. In real life, people don't know what you need unless you ask for it.

It's my responsibility to own my feelings (especially my creative frustration) and ask for what I need in order to complete a project. I have found that when I do this politely, most people are more than understanding.

My colleague who loves chaos wanted me to jump right into his chaos with him. Here's what I said: "I need an hour or two to read through all the information and get it straight in my head. Do you mind if I do that this morning and get back with you after lunch? When I've had a little time to think, I know we can move forward." My colleague was more than happy to accommodate me. We met later that afternoon when I felt more prepared, and we completed the project without incident.

I used the same technique with the colleague who dropped the article on my desk. "I'm happy to fix this," I said. "I need to read through the source material, think about the changes that need to be made, and come up with a plan. May I check back with you in two hours to talk over my approach? If that will work, I can have this done by the end of the day."

I have found most people appreciate my communicating what I need and respect my process, which allows me to follow the next step without guilt.

5. Put your process to work for you.

Once you've successfully campaigned for the time, space, or other accommodations you need to follow your creative process, you must actually use your process to get the job done.

For me, this means getting my head in the right place to think about the project. Before I start, I often pray for focus, wisdom, and a good attitude since I know those are crucial for me to move forward.

Then I start researching. For the article I needed to rewrite, this meant reading the original source materials and finding additional sources to support the new direction I was supposed to take.

When I had the information I needed, I spent a few minutes outlining what the finished article should like, making notes about what I could keep from the original article and what needed to change.

At this point, I was ready to confer with my colleague and start writing. Because I had taken the time to follow the first few steps of my creative process, I was back on track with my creative process and able to complete the project by the requested deadline (well, almost--completing it yesterday was unrealistic since time travel is also fiction).

You're at your best when you're using your unique creative process--even on a project you weren't initially excited about. You might even come to enjoy the project--or at least find it less onerous.

6. Prove your process works with results.

All this talk about creative process means nothing if you can't produce results. People who are initially skeptical of your creative process often grow more supportive when they see you deliver the results they want.

My teenage son often complained while he was growing up that my initial answer to everything was "No." (He's not wrong.) Because he's a smart guy, he caught on to my creative process long before I did and learned to use it to his advantage.

"If I give you enough time to think about something and make sure you have all the information you need, you usually agree with me," he told me one day.

Similarly, after I explain my process to bosses or colleagues and they see I produce results, they often change their requests from "Do this!" to "Hey, would you look at this and get back to me in an hour or two about when you think you can have it done and what you need from me in order to finish it?"

It's a good reminder that an effective creative process produces results that everyone involved can benefit from.

7. Know when to say no.

I don't recommend saying "no" all the time--especially in a work environment. In many areas of my life I've been trying to say "yes" more often. (My son says I still have a lot of room to improve.)

But there is a time when "no" is appropriate, and that's when you're aware that no matter how effective your creative process is, it will not achieve the desired result. I'm a firm believer in keeping my word. If I can't keep it, I want people to know as soon as possible.

Recently my mom asked me to do some special effects in Photoshop for her. I possess just enough Photoshop knowledge to complete the ten-to-fifteen simple tasks required for my work in progress. When my mom described what result she was looking for, I knew it lay far beyond my expertise. What's more, I knew that learning how to do the task would take me hours of research and practice--time neither she nor I had.

So, I politely declined and suggested she find someone with more PhotoShop knowledge than I possessed.

Similarly, after fixing over thirty articles for my colleague, I found one article I was unable to fix. Based on my writing abilities, the time we had, and the direction we needed to take the piece, there was no way I could meet her expectations.

"I thought that one was probably hopeless," she told me, "but now that you've told me, I believe it." Because I had produced results for her so many times, she respected my "no" and we were able to find another solution.

Remember, your creative process is a unique, incredible gift that allows you not only to get the job done but also to do so in the way that allows you to feel confident in yourself and the quality of your project.

Trust your process enough to put your creative process to work in as many situations as you can. You might be surprised how your attitude and your work improve when you do so.

I’ve been guilty of comparing myself to other creative people. I scour their biographies, blogs, books, and interviews for insight into how to achieve the level of creative competency I often believe others have yet I do not. While I believe we can always learn and improve, I’ve met far too many creative people who doubt their own creative abilities when they compare these abilities to others.If you’re doing that, you need to stop right now.

Trust your process.

Two former bosses I had were masters at honoring each employee’s creative process. When I would get frustrated or stuck while working on a particular project, they used to say, “Trust your process and use it to your advantage.” This was perhaps the most valuable advice for creativity that I have ever received, and that’s why I’m devoting a series of blog posts to this topic.

“But Michelle, I don’t have a creative process.”

If you're a human being, you've got a creative process. It's a God-given quality we each have to create any plan, idea, product, atmosphere, program, solution, action, relationship, work of art, home repair, environment, or conflict that you can imagine. Every single person on the planet has the ability to create something (tangible or not) and therefore has a creative process. (Granted, not everyone uses this power for good, but that's a subject for another time.)

That’s why this first post of the series is devoted to helping you figure out your own process. Once you recognize your creative process and embrace it, you'll be able to harness it to accomplish all kinds of amazing things you didn't think you could do.So, how do you discover what your creative process is?

Get a pen and paper to jot down some ideas as you read. If you’re a religious person as I am, I also recommend praying for guidance. Your creativity is a God-given resource, and I believe He enjoys it when we ask for help about how to use the gifts He has given.

1) Think of something you enjoy doing and actually want to do.

You might choose "inciting drama among my co-workers," "planting a garden," "teaching my teenager to drive," or "convincing my friends to watch the that Jane Austen film I've been dying to see." It doesn't matter what activity you choose as long as it's something you enjoy and it involves activity on your part beyond sitting in a catatonic state.

(Choosing a catatonic state could be a creative act, I guess, if you do it on purpose to achieve some sort of desired outcome--such as encouraging the people around you to stop interacting with you.)

I’ll use painting (as in a picture—not a wall or a room) as my example.

2) Make a list of all the steps you follow to complete thing you enjoy, no matter how insignificant.

I've enjoyed painting since I was a kid but I haven't done it much as an adult. About six months ago, I discovered a talented artist friend was teaching a painting class. My first thought was, “I want to paint again.” A few months later, I had a wonderful evening at my friend’s class and came home wanting to paint some more.

Over the next two months, I thought about painting a lot, priced supplies, read about techniques, and asked myself, "Do I really want to invest in this or is it just a passing fancy?" Satisfied that I really wanted to try it, I researched the tools I would need and bought inexpensive paints, brushes, and canvasses.

Once I bought the supplies, I checked out a book on acrylic painting for beginners from the library and read it through to give myself an overview. Then, I set up my supplies and created a work space to paint in. If I have to pull out my painting supplies every time I want to paint, then I will never start.

Finally, I started painting. I copied a sailboat painting I already owned because I liked the color and shapes and thought it would be fun to try. It took two nights to complete. I had a blast while I was working on it. Blending the colors was fun and I liked the feel of the brush in my hand. I was enjoying myself, and that was all that mattered.

While my painting dried, I cleaned up the area and reset to start painting the next night. I took a photo of my painting and emailed it to my family, eager to show off what I'd done. As I went to bed that night, I started fantasizing about what painting I could try the following night.

Now, you do the same thing. Jot down the steps you followed to complete the activity you chose in step 1.

3) Break you process down into basic steps.

After studying my painting story, I grouped my actions into eight basic steps that made sense to me:

Fantasize - I think about painting and have a desire to try it.

Tipping point - I was invited to a painting class--the perfect opportunity to try with expert help!

Research - I looked into supplies and read books about how to paint.

Plan - I bought the tools I needed, set up a work space, and decided what scene I was going to paint.

Creation - I used the brush, paints, and canvas to paint a picture.

Clean up - I cleaned everything and put it back in its place, ready to be used on another painting.

Pride - I took a photo of my painting and emailed it to my immediate family to show off my creation.

Repeat - Almost immediately I started fantasizing about my next painting.

Take a look at your steps and group them in a way that makes sense to you. There’s no right or wrong answer here—only what seems right to you.

4) Test your process against something else you like to do.

You know you've correctly identified your process if it applies to other things you like to do. While some revision of your steps is possible at this point, hopefully everything should line up. If it doesn't, try steps 2 and 3 with another activity you enjoy to see if that provides you any more insight. You may need to combine the insights from two or three activities to see some consistency in process.

I knew I had correctly identified my creative process when I saw how easily the steps used in painting applied to every successful writing project I had completed:

Fantasize - Before I start a book or blog post, I enjoy dreaming about what I could write and play with possibilities.

Tipping point - I have so much fun fantasizing that I start writing down the ideas for fear I will forget them.

Research - I watch movies, read books, and do Internet research to find out as much as I can before writing the book.

Plan - I outline the book so I know the major plot points in advance. This is especially important if I'm writing a mystery. I set up my project in Scrivener, gather all my research into one place, print maps and time lines to hang on my wall, and choose music that will inspire me while I'm writing.

Create - I write and revise the book. Sometimes I do more research and planning if I discover a gap that needs to be filled.

Clean up - Once a book is done, I order the cover, have the final proofing done, archive my electronic files, clean my office, and file away all the maps, outlines, and notes I had hanging on my wall.

Pride - I publish the book and tell people about it. Regardless of how much praise I do or do not receive, I’m proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished.

Repeat - Often before a book is even finished, I’m fantasizing about the next one. I love the process and want it to start all over again.

Remember, if your process applies to more than one activity you enjoy, then you’ve found your creative process.

5) Make a list of actual times your creative process worked.

We all need reminders that we have produced good things. Make a list of projects you have completed in the last six to twelve months using that process. You can go farther back if you need to, but setting a limit is good since looking at your entire life can feel overwhelming.

Here's a list of just a few things I have finished or accomplished within the last twelve months using my creative process:

Started a blog and published 18 blog posts.

Taught a Bible study class at my church approximately 25 times.

Painted mugs with original designs for my family for Christmas presents.

Took a trip to France with my sister.

Created a DVD of our trip to France.

Painted three canvases.

Wrote and published my novel ​Portals and Poison.

Learned Photoshop and used it to create cartoons for a work in progress.

Redesigned the first floor of my house and my home office for better functionality.

Packed a lunch for work every single day.

That list gives me a self-esteem boost every time I look at it. It proves that my creative process works.

Don’t be afraid to make a list of your creative accomplishments, no matter how meager. You have to start somewhere. Past success paves the way for even greater future success in your creative endeavors.

6) Remember that bad days may be part of your process.

The other day I lamented to my sister that my writing projects weren’t going well. “Everything I write stinks,” I complained. She laughed and said, “Michelle, hating what you’re working on is part of your process.”

While I’ll address the emotional roller coaster of creating in a different post in this series, I want to emphasize right now that creating doesn’t always feel good. Sometimes it’s frustrating, sad, anger-inducing, or discouraging.

On those bad days, remind yourself of how you like to work and use that to your advantage. Remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished in the past and allow it to encourage you that you’ll get through this rough patch, too.​Most of all, trust your process. You know yourself and how you like to work. Use your knowledge of your process to change your setting, circumstances, focus, or even aspects of the project itself to make it something that better aligns with the process that works best for you. When you believe in your ability and your unique way of accomplishing things, you can make your creative goals a reality.